WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

GM 1103

Informing the Legislature that on April 10, 2025, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB145 HD1 (ACT 003).

2025 Regular Session

Bill GM 1103 allows automatic sealing of certain criminal records in Hawaii by July 1, 2025, improving access to justice for individuals with expungement orders.

Received.
#act003
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · GM 1103

Summary of Bill GM 1103: Informing the Legislature of Act 003

Overview

Bill GM 1103 serves as a proclamation to inform the Hawaii State Legislature that on April 10, 2025, the Governor signed into law House Bill 145, House Draft 1 (HB145 HD1), which is designated as Act 003. This act pertains to the expungement of criminal records in Hawaii.

Purpose and Intent

The primary purpose of Act 003 is to enhance the process of expungement in Hawaii by granting the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center the authority to transmit expungement orders to the judiciary. This change aims to facilitate the automatic sealing or removal of certain criminal records from publicly accessible databases, thereby improving access to justice for individuals seeking to clear their records.

Key Provisions

  1. Automatic Sealing of Records:

    • The act mandates that by July 1, 2025, the judiciary must automatically seal or remove from its publicly accessible databases any information related to arrests or cases for which an expungement order has been issued.

  2. Authority to Transmit Orders:

    • The act provides the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center with the statutory authority to transmit expungement orders to the judiciary, addressing a current limitation under Act 159, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023.

  3. Judiciary's Responsibilities:

    • The judiciary is required to seal or remove files and information pertaining to the applicable arrest or case upon receiving the expungement order. However, this requirement does not apply if:
      • The individual was charged with multiple offenses, at least one of which is not subject to the expungement order.
      • The individual is one of multiple defendants in a case, where at least one defendant has not received a prior expungement order.

  4. Implementation Timeline:

    • The provisions of Act 003 will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Impact

  • Individuals Seeking Expungement: The act will primarily benefit individuals who have received expungement orders, allowing them to have their criminal records sealed more efficiently.
  • Judiciary and Criminal Justice System: The act aims to streamline the expungement process, reducing administrative burdens on the judiciary and enhancing the overall efficiency of the criminal justice system.

Legislative Process

  • Introduced: April 11, 2025
  • Status: Received by the legislature on the same day as the proclamation.
  • Governor's Approval: Signed into law on April 10, 2025.

This summary provides a clear understanding of Bill GM 1103 and its implications for the expungement process in Hawaii.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.